I wasn't sure how many had the idea to leave alpha before the flash bombs detonated. All there was left for me to do now was try to survive off the land, which was difficult to begin with due to the fact that i had zero outdoor survival skills. I hoped that maybe strength in numbers was the logical option for me but the two who escaped with me, disappeared out of thin air. They ran off and left me alone without a explanation, sometimes i questioned if they even existed in the first place. The doc once told me that i may have been suffering from the serious case of post traumatic stress disorder and end up hallucinating alot of things after the event, which I still find ridiculous. Being able to see and hear things that aren't actually there wasn't a shock to me now but back then.

Radiation was spreading around the city limits fast so I didn't have much of a choice but to leave as quickly as possible. Alpha was no longer my home, all there was left now was a crater to remind me that humanity was gone for good. Clouds built up quickly that day, followed by heavy rain that looked like it wasn't going to end anytime soon. I picked a random direction and took my first step forward into the unknown, making my way through the dense forest. All three citadels had collapse just under a year with no possibility of our civilization recovering what was lost. So many things ran through my head as i aimlessly walked about. I looked up towards the grey sky as the heavens wept silently down upon me. we had the power to take over the planet a thousands times over and yet, we lost! No matter how much progress humanity achieved, how much we sacrificed. How so many of ancestors laid down their lives just so we could live on happily and comfortably inside the walls. Was it all just a big lie? Are we just meant to go quietly Into the night?

I wanted answers but that was impossible since everyone was gone. I should have died when the flash bombs went off, dying was far better than this madness. With only one large bottle of water and a couple energy bars left,things were looking grim for me. I was gonna starve to death in a matter of days if i didn't find food.

“why didn't you just surrender? You would have been guaranteed a loving family and roof under your head if you did."

I was too scared to do such a thing back then, the stories I've heard about your traditions and odd cultures made me terrified of beastmen. Surrendering to your kind would have been a crime worse than murder itself. In the eyes of my people, I would be declared as a traitor and either be executed or live the rest of my life in a prison cell. Not to mention if my family somehow miraculously survive, they would disowned me without hesitation. I couldn't bear to go through such a thing.

As i traveled further from alpha, gunfire could be heard off in the distance. It sounded like someone was shooting high caliber rounds. Something huge came crashing through the treeline right in front of me, bringing down a couple of trees in the process. I  manage to crawl back just before being crushed, taking in large quantities of exhaust fumes towards my face. I tried to get up and run but a shock wave forced me back to the dirt, a deafening sound was coming from the very object itself. It wasn't hard to tell what it was after gaining my bearings, I stood before a honorguard mobile battle tank. I always dreamed of driving one of these machines when I was young, they yet another example of superior human engineering. Created with the sole purpose of pushing through the frontlines, destroying all who opposed them while the Infantry supported their flanks. Capable of taking an incredible amount of damage while kindly returning fire with ease.

people were heard screaming from within ,it was obvious that the crew was in a panic. “Load another shell, deploy the fucking smokes now!" a woman screamed. “All our countermeasures aren't responding ma'am! Shit, incoming!" a red projectile was seen speeding towards the tank from over a hill, making contact with the tanks hull at an angle. The shell bounced off with a loud clang, quickly flying off into the air. “Get us out of here NOW!" the desperation in her voice was clear. “She won't budge ma'am,i think we're stuck."

The tank tried to crawl forth but the tracks were digging into the ground. Another barrage of shells were trained in the tank, one missed and hit a nearby tree but the second one however was successfully able to penetrate, blowing an sizable hole through the driver's seat. The entire turret  exploded in large fireball, violently ejecting from the tank's main body and landing on some nearby vegetation. I made the stupid mistake of staying to watch the battle unfold as a piece of shrapnel pierced my left forearm. I cried out in pain as I tried to remove it but it wouldn't budge, that was the day I landed my first permanent scar after the Calamity event. I would have been the coolest kid in school with this mark if things didn't go to shit, pretty sure that there's still some bits left inside. I'm lucky that it didn't hit anything vital or i would have counted my life short early.

After the tank was defeated by the unknown attacker, I quickly left the scene and continued my aimless journey. The wound I received wasn't that serious for me to start worrying but i let it get worse and become infected. Even if i didn't have any sort medical training to treat injuries, I still had to do something. I decided use a part of my T-shirt to wrap up my arm, it wasn't going last long but it'll do until i find an first aid kit. Morning turned to late evening, my body was at the verge of shutting down when I had that awful feeling of being watched.

I turned around to see the a dark shadow hiding behind a set of bushes a few meters from me, stepping into view when I Notice him. “Long time no see numbnuts!" He said with an chuckle. I couldn't believe that he of all people would survive the war, my childhood bully stood before me with eyes full of unflinching hatred and hunger.